Ten years after the Lily Mine collapse, the families of Pretty Nkambule, Yvonne Mnisi, and Solomon Nyirenda have lodged a formal complaint with the South African Human Rights Commission (SAHRC). They accuse the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) and the Department of Mineral Resources and Energy of failing to act on the findings of the 2017 Nelspruit Magistrate’s Court inquiry.

Family spokesperson Harry Mazibuko said: “The tragedy was preventable and arose from negligence. The inquiry recommended criminal accountability, yet no decisive action has been taken.” The families are still waiting for the retrieval of their loved ones’ remains.

ActionSA, led by Herman Mashaba, stood with the families on 5 February 2026, marking the tenth anniversary and renewing calls for justice. An inquest found that mine management failed in risk assessments, while authorities failed to curb illegal mining, contributing to the collapse.

Mashaba said: “Three people vanished, and if we think it only happened to these families, it could happen to yours tomorrow. Lily Mine must remain top of mind.”

The SAHRC is expected to investigate whether the NPA and Department of Mineral Resources have failed in their duties, while the families continue to demand accountability.